So I am getting a timing belt done on my '06 TL for the first time and the best deal is at the Hamilton Honda in NJ for $549 (mentioned previously here when it was $389 several years ago) which includes the timing belt, drive belt, water pump and coolant. They will inspect the tensioner and that will be an extra $125 if needed. Acura wanted $799 for the same service. My question is how much does it matter with the timing belt and pump to have genuine Acura Parts? I will have Honda OEM parts but according to Acura, I shouldn't use them. Of course, I realize they just want my business. Any opinions from the mechanics on here?

Thanks, and have a wonderful day.

 

they're the same; they're pulling your chain.. 549 is not a bad price though.

 

^ don't forget the spark plugs.

 

Spark plugs were an extra $350. Is that something something they can inspect?

 

wow that's insane. that will cost you 40 bucks and 30 min of your time if you do it yourself

 

350 for spark plugs? The plugs will cost you 40-60 at most for good ones. the front 3 plugs are like 30 mins labour at most lol . the back 3 are a little tricky as theres not a lot of room but take off the strut bar and boom you have clearance.

 

heck of a price for the Timing belt, water pump etc.

cheapest i have been quoted thus far:
$925 for timing belt package
$215 sparks (obviously doing this myself)
$495 Valve adjustment.

 

 

http://www.hamiltonhonda.net/honda-timing-belts.html

 

Yeah there is no such thing as Acura OEM parts vs Honda OEM parts. If you look up the parts for a timing belt kit the same parts fit almost all J3x engines throughout Honda and Acura. I have found that my local Acura dealer almost borderline rude about any service I get. My local Honda dealer was a lot better but they are still a dealership. It is funny that dealerships across the country not just Honda include different things in the 105k service and if you try to do a la cart they usually instantly add hundreds to the price. I tried to get a price on the 105k service from my Honda Dealership and they said since I didn't have the 90k I would have to have that first. Dealerships use the 105k listed in the owners manual to try to do unnecessary things. I was quoted $1400 for the 105k and it included everything under the sun. Definitely go with OEM Honda though I have heard of other timing belts having problems.

 

Just make certain the price is set in concrete as last year they were adding an additional $100 to the price if it wasn't a Honda vehicle.

 

$125 extra for the tensioner? That's a bit of a rip off considering you can purchase the Aisin tensioner for only $54 from Amazon. There's more labor involved if they re-use the tensioner than if they replace it. Either way, they have to remove and re-attach it, but if they re-use it, they have to place it in a vice and compress the piston and pin it before they re-attach it.

I would highly recommend replacing the tensioner. If it starts leaking and then blows, you'll be out an engine.

What about tensioner pulley and idler pulley? Does their price include those?

Total ripoff and part of their bait and switch routine. They get you into their shop on the so-so timing belt deal and then rip you off on a plug change. With a coupon, you can usually find the plugs for ~$42 out the door from Advance Auto Parts. Assume a 1-hour minimum labor charge at $125/hour, so they are really ripping you off @ $350.

 

I agree on the checking on extra if you bring in Acura. i called a Honda dealer here in town yesterday and they said it might be an extra $80 because its acura, and they too did not include a new tensioner.

I also asked if they included a new thermostat and they said no, in the techs words "those things never go bad." I hung up.

 

Order the Aisin kit and the NGK plugs from rockauto. Then call Paul, our star mechanic up in Clifton, 201-562-9820. The savings will make it MORE than worth the trip (about an hour North of Hamilton), and you'll get OEM parts without the Honda name on the package along with a former Honda/Acura mechanic who knows what the hell he's doing.
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just if your curious heres what i have found calling around my area today....

 

+1. He's also a trusted vendor here on AZ. Check out some of his reviews:

https://acurazine.com/forums/ny-nj-3...rth-nj-883797/

 

i believe Hamilton Honda charged me 79 bucks for the tensioner. but I did my T.B job in 2011 I believe

 

Clifton where ?? I'm in Passaic and need to get this same work done to my '07 Type S ASAP. And I also agree with getting the Aisin kit and plugs from Amazon, I found both wayyyyy cheaper

 

call him

 

just reached 100k miles and i'm getting prepped for this service also

my local (WNY) honda does the 3.2/v6 package for about $750 taxed i think.